DAPL Fife

25/05/2026

Please find a research request external to SWAN from a trainee Clinical Psychologist at University of Glasgow:

The Aims of the Study: Some people who have babies develop mental health problems during the perinatal period (from pregnancy until a year after birth) ​. Neurodivergent people have a higher risk of mental health problems during this time. This may be because of extra challenges, such as dealing with sensory overload and emotional difficulties.

Current questionnaires used to check for mental health problems during the perinatal period were developed based on the experiences of neurotypical people. There is no questionnaire to check for mental health problems during the perinatal period in neurodivergent people. This may make it harder to spot mental health issues, so they may not be getting the support they need.

This study aims to develop and test a new questionnaire to check for mental health problems during the perinatal period in autistic and ADHD people. The study has two goals: 1) to create a questionnaire based on the experiences of autistic and ADHD people, clinicians, and existing research; 2) to test how well this new questionnaire works.

To register your interest, click here or scan the QR code: https://tinyurl.com/NDperinatal

Participants can also enter an optional prize draw to win one of four £25 shopping vouchers.

If you have any difficulties accessing the above link or have any other questions, please email v.garau.1@research.gla.ac.uk

Image description: [Poster advertising a UK online research study on perinatal mental health and autism/ADHD. The study seeks autistic and/or ADHD women and birthing people aged 18 or over who experienced perinatal mental health challenges in the last three years to complete an anonymous 20-minute survey. Includes a QR code, survey link, University of Glasgow logo, and researcher contact details.]

18/05/2026

08/05/2026

https://gofund.me/b8ffd0da1
One of our volunteer counsellors, Ann, is walking the West Highland Way to raise funds for DAPL. These donations will support our planned reflective and remembrance space in our garden, a partnership project with The Men's Shed in Buckhaven.
If you can contribute to this project, please click on the link below:
https://gofund.me/b8ffd0da1
Your support is very much appreciated.

24/04/2026

DAPL is pleased to offer placements to students interested in addictions, leveraging our 32 years of experience providing specialised, trauma-informed psychotherapy .

Oliwer has completed a four-month placement with us as part of his MSc in Clinical Psychology at Stirling University. We wish him the best in his future education and career journey.

21/04/2026

Whoooooosh, what a journey, Mike. We have been proud to be part of it. Scottish Drugs Forum National traineeship.

"Thank you, Susan and the DAPL team. My time at DAPL was a life-changing experience, and everyone was brilliant with me; the training I got was first class, and that’s why I am where I am today because of the training I got at DAPL. I have nothing but great things to say about DAPL, and my experience on placement has changed my life. I cannot thank everyone enough.
I will get in for a cuppa at some point.

06/04/2026

We said good bye to two of our longest-serving counsellors in March.

Penny is retiring however, I am pleased to announce that she is returning as a volunteer counsellor at our Kirkcaldy office.

Arlene has decided to take a long-term break from volunteering and we thank her for her service and wish her the best in her future endeavors

02/04/2026

We are pleased to announce that DAPL has been re-commissioned to deliver two specialised school-based therapeutic services across Fife from April 1, 2026, through 2029:

- Secondary School Counselling: 1:1 psychotherapeutic support for pupils experiencing emotional distress that impacts educational engagement.
- Primary school Art Therapy: Support for pupils in P5–P7 to build resilience and maintain their connection to learning.

DAPL is one of seven partners selected to support the mental well-being of Fife's young people.

12/03/2026

For over 30 years, we have been providing psychological therapy within the Fife community to support individuals affected by substance addiction.

In addition to our core therapeutic services, we are proud to offer placement opportunities for students and volunteering roles for individuals who have lived experience and have maintained a stable recovery for at least two years. We also provide excellent opportunities for qualified counsellors to build their practice hours; in return, we offer free supervision and reimbursement for travel expenses.

I encourage you to visit our website at www.dapl.net to learn more about our services and how to get involved. Please feel free to reach out if you have any specific questions.

04/03/2026

Please find a research request external to SWAN from a researcher at Abertay University:

The research will look into access to autism and ADHD assessments, and see how this can impact individuals wellbeing. You can take part if you're aged 16 or over and either self identify or have a formal diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD.
If you'd like to get involved, you can either click this link: https://abertay.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0qsdeDPCLX780kK or email the researcher Patricia here: 2206908@uad.ac.uk

Image description: Poster with the heading “Participants Wanted” invites individuals to take part in a final year research project about access to Autism and ADHD assessment and diagnosis, noting that experiences vary widely and may impact wellbeing and quality of life.
A section titled “Why Take Part?” explains that participants can help improve understanding of diagnostic pathways and their impact on everyday life.
Under “What Does Participation Involve?” it states that participation consists of an anonymous online survey, completed in the participant’s own time, taking 10–15 minutes, with no identifying information collected.
The “Who Can Take Part?” section states that participants must be aged 16 years or over and have a formal or informal diagnosis, or self-identification, of Autism, ADHD, or both Autism and ADHD.
The poster includes a survey link (a Qualtrics URL hosted by Abertay University), identifies the researcher as Patricia Dow (email: 2206908@uad.ac.uk), and notes Abertay University ethics approval reference EMS10824.

04/03/2026

It’s important to us that those most affected by drug-related harms have a voice in discussions about policy, practice and solutions – so we’re pleased to be able to offer a small number of free places at our Stop The Deaths conference.

To be eligible for a fully funded place, you must have living or lived experience of substance use. Priority will be given to people with no income.

Applications are now open until 27 March at 5pm 👇

https://buff.ly/dW8mTkc

23/02/2026

Attending the NHS MI Winter School training today.
At DAPL, we are committed to continuous professional development to ensure we provide the most effective counselling services possible to the communities of Fife. Participating in this prestigious program is a key part of our effort to enhance our clinical skills and better support our adult and recovery services.